India and Armenia Strengthen Ties: Focus on AI, Trade and Defence
India and Armenia hold Foreign Office Consultations to boost trade, AI, and defence cooperation. Read more about their strengthening partnership.
India and Armenia have taken a significant step in deepening their strategic partnership, reviewing a broad spectrum of India Armenia bilateral ties during recent Foreign Office Consultations. The high-level talks, co-chaired by senior officials from both nations, focused on modernizing their relationship through technology, trade, and security cooperation.
High-Level Diplomatic Engagement
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that Secretary (West) Sibi George led the Indian delegation, while Mnatsakan Safaryan, the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia, co-chaired the sessions. The discussions were comprehensive, aiming to solidify the bond between the two countries across multiple sectors.
According to the MEA, the officials reviewed several key areas of cooperation, including:
- Trade and Investment: Exploring new avenues for economic growth and commercial partnerships.
- Technology and Innovation: A strong emphasis on science, technology, and the burgeoning field of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- Social and Cultural Links: Enhancing education and people-to-people exchanges to foster deeper mutual understanding.
Beyond bilateral matters, the two sides also exchanged perspectives on regional and global issues that impact their mutual interests.
A History of Cooperation
This latest round of talks builds upon the foundation laid during the 11th India-Armenia Foreign Office Consultations held in Yerevan on November 8 of last year. During those meetings, George and Safaryan had discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and cooperation within multilateral forums.
A notable milestone from the previous consultations was the signing of a formal agreement between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India and the Ministry of Health of Armenia, focusing on cooperation in public health and medical science. Looking ahead, both nations have agreed to host the next round of consultations in India in 2026.
Defence Cooperation Takes Center Stage
While diplomatic and cultural ties are growing, defence cooperation has emerged as a cornerstone of the India-Armenia engagement. This was highlighted by a Joint Working Group Meeting on Defence Cooperation held on October 23 in Hyderabad, Telangana.
The defence talks focused on several critical security pillars:
- Bilateral defence cooperation strategies.
- Collaborations within the defence industrial sector.
- Various other security-related concerns.
The Indian delegation at the Hyderabad meeting was led by Joint Secretary Vishwesh Negi, while the Armenian side was headed by Levon Ayvazyan, the Head of the Policy and International Military Cooperation Department of Armenia's Ministry of Defence.